Comparator providing offset calibration and integrated circuit including comparator

ABSTRACT

A comparator configured to calibrate an offset according to a control signal, including an input circuit configured to receive a first input signal and a second input signal, and to generate a first internal signal corresponding to the first input signal and a second internal signal corresponding to the second input signal; a differential amplification circuit configured to consume a supply current flowing from a positive voltage node having a positive supply voltage to a negative voltage node having a negative supply voltage, and to generate an output signal by amplifying a difference between the first internal signal and the second internal signal; and a current valve configured to adjust at least a portion of the supply current based on the control signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0104575, filed on Aug. 26, 2019, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present disclosure relates to a comparator and, more specifically, to a comparator providing offset calibration and an integrated circuit including the same.

2. Description of Related Art

A comparator which generates an output signal indicating a comparison result by comparing input signals may be used for various applications. For example, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting an analog signal into a digital signal may include a plurality of comparators and generate a digital signal by encoding output signals of the plurality of comparators. In addition, a switching regulator may include a comparator for comparing a feedback signal to a reference signal.

The performance and efficiency of the applications may depend on characteristics of a comparator, for example power consumption, operating speed, noise properties, area, accuracy, and the like, and some of the characteristics of the comparator may be in a trade-off relationship. Accordingly, it may not be easy to implement a comparator having good characteristics without sacrificing other characteristics.

SUMMARY

According to embodiments, a comparator configured to calibrate an offset according to a control signal includes an input circuit configured to receive a first input signal and a second input signal, and to generate a first internal signal corresponding to the first input signal and a second internal signal corresponding to the second input signal; a differential amplification circuit configured to consume a supply current flowing from a positive voltage node having a positive supply voltage to a negative voltage node having a negative supply voltage, and to generate an output signal by amplifying a difference between the first internal signal and the second internal signal; and a current valve configured to adjust at least a portion of the supply current based on the control signal.

According to embodiments, a comparator configured to calibrate an offset according to a control signal includes an input circuit configured to receive a first input signal and a second input signal, and to generate a first internal signal corresponding to the first input signal and a second internal signal corresponding to the second input signal; a differential amplification circuit configured to generate an output signal by amplifying a difference between the first internal signal and the second internal signal; and a current valve including at least one transistor having a control electrode configured to receive the control signal, wherein the at least one transistor is connected in series to the differential amplification circuit and one of a positive voltage node having a positive supply voltage or a negative voltage node having a negative supply voltage.

According to embodiments, an integrated circuit includes a plurality of comparators, wherein each comparator of the plurality of comparators is configured to calibrate an offset according to a control signal; and an offset controller configured to generate the control signal for adjusting the offset in a calibration mode and generate a constant control signal in a normal mode, wherein the each comparator includes a differential amplification circuit configured to generate at least one output signal among a plurality of output signals by consuming a supply current; and a current valve configured to adjust at least a portion of the supply current based on the control signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams of examples of comparators according to embodiments;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams of examples of comparators according to embodiments;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are circuit diagrams of examples of comparators according to embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an example of a comparator according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of an example of a comparator according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are block diagrams of examples of comparators according to embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of an example of a comparator according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of an example of a comparator according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are circuit diagrams of examples of comparators according to embodiments;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are circuit diagrams of examples of comparators according to embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an example of an integrated circuit including a comparator, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an example of a comparator according to an embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an example of a method of calibrating an offset of a comparator, according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are block diagrams of examples of offset controllers according to embodiments; and

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an example of a baseband processor according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments provide a comparator providing high accuracy without sacrificing other characteristics and an integrated circuit including the comparator. The embodiments provided herein are all exemplary, and thus, the inventive concept is not limited thereto.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams of examples of comparators according to embodiments. Hereinafter, a duplicated description with respect to FIGS. 1A and 1B will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 1A, a comparator 10 a may receive first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 and generate an output signal OUT by comparing the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2. For example, the comparator 10 a may compare voltages of the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2, and the output signal OUT may have a high voltage (or a high level) when the voltage of the first input signal IN1 is higher than the voltage of the second input signal IN2, and have a low voltage (or a low level) when the voltage of the second input signal IN2 is higher than the voltage of the first input signal IN1. Hereinafter, embodiments will be described by mainly referring to a comparator for comparing voltages of input signals, but it will be understood that the embodiments may also be applied to other types of comparators, for example a comparator for comparing currents of input signals. The comparator 10 a may be connected to a positive voltage node to which a positive supply voltage VDD is applied and a negative voltage node to which a negative supply voltage VSS, which may be referred to as a ground potential, is applied and may receive power from the positive voltage node and the negative voltage node. Hereinafter, the positive voltage node to which the positive supply voltage VDD is applied may be simply referred to as the positive supply voltage VDD, and the negative voltage node to which the negative supply voltage VSS is applied may be simply referred to as the negative supply voltage VSS. As shown in FIG. 1A, the comparator 10 a may include an input circuit 12 a, a differential amplification circuit 14 a, and top and bottom current valves CVp and CVn.

The input circuit 12 a may generate first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2 based on the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2. For example, the input circuit 12 a may have a high input impedance and a low output impedance and generate the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2 respectively corresponding to the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2. According to some embodiments, the input circuit 12 a may include transistors to generate the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2 respectively having inverted levels of the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2, as described below with reference to FIGS. 4, 8, and the like.

The differential amplification circuit 14 a may receive the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2 and generate the output signal OUT by amplifying a difference, for example a voltage difference, between the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2. The differential amplification circuit 14 a may have an arbitrary structure of amplifying the difference between the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2, and according to some embodiments, as described below with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the differential amplification circuit 14 a may include cross coupled amplification circuits. The differential amplification circuit 14 a may generate the output signal OUT as a single ended signal according to some embodiments and as a differential signal according to some other embodiments. The differential amplification circuit 14 a may perform the amplification by consuming a supply current flowing from the positive supply voltage VDD to the negative supply voltage VSS via the differential amplification circuit 14 a. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the differential amplification circuit 14 a may receive a supply current I_(S) from the positive supply voltage VDD and drain a supply current I_(S)′ to the negative supply voltage VSS. According to some embodiments, both the supply currents I_(S) and I_(S)′ may have different magnitudes according to the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2 and/or the output signal OUT, but it is assumed in the present specification that both the supply currents I_(S) and I_(S)′ have substantially the same magnitude (I_(S)=I_(S)′).

The comparator 10 a may include at least one current valve configured to adjust at least a portion of the supply current I_(S) or I_(S)′ consumed by the differential amplification circuit 14 a. In the present specification, current valve may refer to an element capable of adjusting, according to a control signal, a magnitude of a current passing therethrough or a circuit including the same. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the top current valve CVp may adjust, according to a top control signal CTRp, at least a portion of the supply current I_(S) flowing from the positive supply voltage VDD to the differential amplification circuit 14 a, and the bottom current valve CVn may adjust, according to a bottom control signal CTRn, at least a portion of the supply current I_(S)′ flowing from the differential amplification circuit 14 a to the negative supply voltage VSS. According to some embodiments, the supply current I_(S) or I_(S)′ may vary according to an operation of the differential amplification circuit 14 a, the top current valve CVp may set an upper limit of the supply current I_(S) according to the top control signal CTRp, and the bottom current valve CVn may set an upper limit of the supply current I_(S)′ according to the bottom control signal CTRn. According to some embodiments, the comparator 10 a may include only one of the top current valve CVp and the bottom current valve CVn, and in the present specification, the top current valve CVp and the bottom current valve CVn may be collectively referred to as a current valve.

Due to a deviation between a first path on which the first input signal IN1 is processed and a second path on which the second input signal IN2 is processed, the comparator 10 a may have an offset, which may be an input offset). For example, the comparator 10 a may generate the output signal OUT indicating that the first input signal IN1 is lower than the second input signal IN2 when a voltage of the first input signal IN1 is lower than a voltage obtained by adding a voltage of the second input signal IN2 and a positive offset voltage. As the offset increases, the accuracy of the comparator 10 a may decrease, and thus, the comparator 10 a may provide an operation for compensating for the offset, for example offset calibration. As shown in FIG. 1A, the comparator 10 a may provide offset calibration for compensating for the offset by adjusting the supply current I_(S) or I_(S)′ provided to or drained from the differential amplification circuit 14 a, and accordingly, as described below with reference to FIG. 7, a wide offset adjustment range and a high offset adjustment resolution may be provided without influencing the other characteristics of the comparator 10 a.

Referring to FIG. 1B, similarly to the comparator 10 a in FIG. 1A, a comparator 10 b may receive the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2, generate the output signal OUT, and include an input circuit 12 b, a differential amplification circuit 14 b, and the top and bottom current valves CVp and CVn. Compared to the top and bottom current valves CVp and CVn in FIG. 1A, the top current valve CVp in FIG. 1B may adjust, according to the top control signal CTRp, at least a portion of the supply current I_(S) provided to not only the differential amplification circuit 14 b but also the input circuit 12 b, and the bottom current valve CVn in FIG. 1B may also adjust, according to the bottom control signal CTRn, at least a portion of the supply current I_(S)′ drained from not only the differential amplification circuit 14 b but also the input circuit 12 b. According to some embodiments, the input circuit 12 a and the differential amplification circuit 14 a in FIG. 1A may be connected in parallel between the positive supply voltage VDD and the negative supply voltage VSS, whereas the input circuit 12 b and the differential amplification circuit 14 b in FIG. 1B may be connected in series between the positive supply voltage VDD and the negative supply voltage VSS. In addition, according to some embodiments, unlike shown in FIG. 1B, the comparator 10 b may include only one of the top current valve CVp and the bottom current valve CVn.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams of examples of comparators according to embodiments. In detail, the block diagram of FIG. 2A illustrates an example of a differential amplification circuit and a top current valve, and the block diagram of FIG. 2B illustrates an example of a differential amplification circuit and a bottom current valve.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a comparator 20 a may include a differential amplification circuit 24 a and first and second top current valves CVp1 and CVp2. The differential amplification circuit 24 a may include first and second amplification circuits A1 and A2 which respectively generate complementary first and second output signals OUT1 and OUT2 and are cross-coupled, and the first and second top current valves CVp1 and CVp2 may adjust first and second supply currents I_(S1) and I_(S2) provided to the first and second amplification circuits A1 and A2, respectively. The first top current valve CVp1 may adjust the first supply current I_(S1) based on a first top control signal CTRp1, the second top current valve CVp2 may adjust the second supply current I_(S2) based on a second top control signal CTRp2, and a value of at least one of the first and second top control signals CTRp1 and CTRp2 may be determined according to a sign and a magnitude of an offset.

Referring to FIG. 2B, a comparator 20 b may include a differential amplification circuit 24 b and first and second bottom current valves CVn1 and CVn2. The differential amplification circuit 24 b may include the first and second amplification circuits A1 and A2 which respectively generate the complementary first and second output signals OUT1 and OUT2 and are cross-coupled, and the first and second bottom current valves CVn1 and CVn2 may adjust first and second supply currents I_(S1)′ and I_(S2)′ provided to the first and second amplification circuits A1 and A2, respectively. The first bottom current valve CVn1 may adjust the first supply current I_(S1)′ based on a first bottom control signal CTRn1, the second bottom current valve CVn2 may adjust the second supply current I_(S2)′ based on a second bottom control signal CTRn2, and a value of at least one of the first and second bottom control signals CTRn1 and CTRn2 may be determined according to a sign and a magnitude of an offset.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are circuit diagrams of examples of comparators according to embodiments. In detail, the circuit diagram in FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a portion of the first amplification circuit A1 and the first top current valve CVp1 in FIG. 2A, and the circuit diagram in FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a portion of the first amplification circuit A1 and the first bottom current valve CVn1 in FIG. 2B. According to some embodiments, the portion of the second amplification circuit A2 and the second top current valve CVp2 in FIG. 2A may also have a similar structure to that shown in FIG. 3A, and the portion of the second amplification circuit A2 and the second bottom current valve CVn2 in FIG. 2B may also have a similar structure to that shown in FIG. 3B.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a comparator 30 a may include a first amplification circuit Ala and a first top current valve CVp1′. The first top current valve CVp1′ may adjust, based on the first top control signal CTRp1, the first supply current I_(S1) provided from the positive supply voltage VDD to the first amplification circuit Ala. As shown in FIG. 3A, the first top current valve CVp1′ may include a plurality of first transistors P11 to P18 respectively having control electrodes, which receive the first top control signal CTRp1, and connected in series to the positive supply voltage VDD and the first amplification circuit Ala. According to some embodiments, the plurality of first transistors P11 to P18 may be p-channel field effect transistors (PFETs) and have different sizes, for example different current driving capabilities. According to some embodiments, the first top current valve CVp1′ may include a different number of first transistors from those shown in FIG. 3A.

According to some embodiments, the first top control signal CTRp1 may be a multi-bit signal as a digital signal, and each of the plurality of first transistors P11 to P18 may be turned on or off by receiving one bit of the first top control signal CTRp1. According to some other embodiments, the first top control signal CTRp1 may have a continuously variable voltage as an analog signal, and each of the plurality of first transistors P11 to P18 may operate in a triode region according to the voltage of the first top control signal CTRp1.

The first amplification circuit Ala may include a plurality of second transistors P21 to P25 connected to the first top current valve CVp1′. As shown in FIG. 3A, the plurality of second transistors P21 to P25 may respectively have control electrodes commonly connected, first electrodes commonly connected, and second electrodes each connected to at least one of the plurality of first transistors P11 to P18. For example, the plurality of second transistors P21 to P25 may be PFETs and have gates commonly connected and drains commonly connected. In addition, each of the plurality of second transistors P21 to P25 may have a source connected to at least one of the plurality of first transistors P11 to P18. Accordingly, at a node connected to the drains of the plurality of second transistors P21 to P25, a load, for example capacitance, according to the plurality of second transistors P21 to P25 may function regardless of states, for example a turn-on or turn-off state, of the plurality of first transistors P11 to P18, and accordingly, the other characteristics of the comparator 30 a may not be influenced therefrom.

According to some embodiments, the plurality of second transistors P21 to P25 may have different sizes, i.e., different current driving capabilities. In addition, according to some embodiments, the first amplification circuit A1 a may include a different number of second transistors from those shown in FIG. 3A, which are connected to the first top current valve CVp1′. In the drawings attached to the present specification, transistors in a differential amplification circuit connected to a top current valve, such as the plurality of second transistors P21 to P25 in FIG. 3A, may be shown as a single transistor drawn to be thick.

The plurality of first transistors P11 to P18 in the first top current valve CVp1′ may include first transistors providing coarse tuning of the first supply current I_(S1) and first transistors providing fine tuning of the first supply current I_(S1). For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, four first transistors P11 to P14 respectively connected to four second transistors P21 to P24 may coarsely adjust the first supply current I_(S1) according to the first top control signal CTRp1, and four first transistors P15 to P18 commonly connected to one second transistor P25 may finely adjust the first supply current I_(S1) according to the first top control signal CTRp1. A magnitude of the first supply current I_(S1) adjusted according to the first top control signal CTRp1 may depend on not only a connection relationship between the plurality of first transistors P11 to P18 and the plurality of second transistors P21 to P25 but also sizes, for example current driving capabilities, of the plurality of first transistors P11 to P18 and the plurality of second transistors P21 to P25. An example of such an adjustment according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 3B, a comparator 30 b may include a first amplification circuit Alb and a first bottom current valve CVn1′. The first bottom current valve CVn1′ may adjust, based on the first bottom control signal CTRn1, the first supply current I_(S1)′ drained from the first amplification circuit Alb to the negative supply voltage VSS. As shown in FIG. 3B, the first bottom current valve CVn1′ may include a plurality of first transistors N11 to N18 respectively having control electrodes, which receive the first bottom control signal CTRn1, and connected in series to the negative supply voltage VSS and the first amplification circuit Alb. According to some embodiments, the plurality of first transistors N11 to N18 may be n-channel field effect transistors (NFETs) and have different sizes, for example different current driving capabilities. According to some embodiments, the first bottom current valve CVn1′ may include a different number of first transistors from those shown in FIG. 3B.

According to some embodiments, the first bottom control signal CTRn1 may be a multi-bit signal as a digital signal, and each of the plurality of first transistors N11 to N18 may be turned on or off by receiving one bit of the first bottom control signal CTRn1. According to some other embodiments, the first bottom control signal CTRn1 may have a continuously variable voltage as an analog signal, and each of the plurality of first transistors N11 to N18 may operate in a triode region according to the voltage of the first bottom control signal CTRn1.

The first amplification circuit Alb may include a plurality of second transistors N21 to N25 connected to the first bottom current valve CVn1′. As shown in FIG. 3B, the plurality of second transistors N21 to N25 may respectively have control electrodes commonly connected, first electrodes commonly connected, and second electrodes each connected to at least one of the plurality of first transistors N11 to N18. For example, the plurality of second transistors N21 to N25 may be NFETs and have gates commonly connected and drains commonly connected. In addition, each of the plurality of second transistors N21 to N25 may have a source connected to at least one of the plurality of first transistors N11 to N18. According to some embodiments, the plurality of second transistors N21 to N25 may have different sizes, i.e., different current driving capabilities. In addition, according to some embodiments, the first amplification circuit Alb may include a different number of second transistors from those shown in FIG. 3B, which are connected to the first bottom current valve CVn1′. In the drawings attached to the present specification, transistors in a differential amplification circuit connected to a bottom current valve, such as the plurality of second transistors N21 to N25 in FIG. 3B, may be shown as a single transistor drawn to be thick.

Similarly to that described above with reference to FIG. 3A, four first transistors N11 to N14 among the plurality of first transistors N11 to N18 may provide coarse tuning of the first supply current I_(S1)′, and the other four first transistors N15 to N18 may provide fine tuning of the first supply current I_(S1).

Hereinafter, the example embodiments will be described by mainly referring to a comparator including a PFET or an NFET as an example of a transistor, but it will be understood that the embodiments are also applicable to a comparator including transistors such as unipolar transistors including an FET, bipolar transistors including a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), and the like.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an example of a comparator according to an embodiment. In detail, the circuit diagram in FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a comparator 40 including an input circuit 42 and a differential amplification circuit 44 connected in series between the positive supply voltage VDD and the negative supply voltage VSS and including the first and second top current valves CVp1 and CVp2, similarly to the comparator 10 b in FIG. 1B.

Referring to FIG. 4, the input circuit 42 may include first and second NFETs N41 and N42 receiving the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 The first and second NFETs N41 and N42 may respectively pass the first and second supply currents I_(S1) and I_(S2) therethrough and provide the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2 to the differential amplification circuit 44.

The differential amplification circuit 44 may include first and second amplification circuits A41 and A42 which respectively generate the complementary first and second output signals OUT1 and OUT2 and are cross-coupled The first amplification circuit A41 may include a third NFET N43 connected to the input circuit 42, and a first PFET P41 connected to the first top current valve CVp1. In addition, the second amplification circuit A42 may include a fourth NFET N44 connected to the input circuit 42, and a second PFET P42 connected to the second top current valve CVp2. As described above with reference to FIG. 3A, the first PFET P41 may include a plurality of PFETs, and the second PFET P42 may also include a plurality of PFETs.

The first top current valve CVp1 may adjust the first supply current I_(S1) based on the first top control signal CTRp1, the second top current valve CVp2 may adjust the second supply current I_(S2) based on the second top control signal CTRp2. As described above with reference to FIG. 3A, the first top current valve CVp1 may include a plurality of PFETs, and the first supply current I_(S1) may flow from the first top current valve CVp1 to the first PFET P41 via a plurality of lines. Likewise, the second top control signal CTRp2 may include a plurality of PFETs, and the second supply current I_(S2) may flow from the second top current valve CVp2 to the second PFET P42 via a plurality of lines.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of an example of a comparator according to an embodiment. In detail, the circuit diagram in FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the first top current valve CVp1 and the first amplification circuit A41 in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, a comparator 50 may include a first amplification circuit A51 and a first top current valve CVp1″. According to some embodiments, the first top current valve CVp1″ and the first amplification circuit A51 in FIG. 5 may be an example of or otherwise correspond to the second top current valve CVp2 and the second amplification circuit A42 in FIG. 4 or may be included in comparators different from the comparator 40 in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first top current valve CVp1″ may include a plurality of first transistors T11 to T16. The first top current valve CVp1″ may adjust, based on a 4-bit first top control signal CTRp1 [4:1], the first supply current I_(S1) provided from the positive supply voltage VDD to the first amplification circuit A51. The first top current valve CVp1″ may include four first transistors T12 to T15 having gates receiving respective bits of the first top control signal CTRp1 [4:1], and each of the four first transistors T12 to T15 may be turned on or off according to the first top control signal CTRp1[4:1]. In the present specification, like the four first transistors T12 to T15, a transistor controlled according to a control signal may be referred to as a dynamically controlled transistor. The first top current valve CVp1″ may include not only the dynamically controlled transistors but also two first transistors T11 and T16 having gates receiving the negative supply voltage VSS, and accordingly, the two first transistors T11 and T16 may operate in a triode region according to a drain voltage. In the present specification, like the two first transistors T11 and T16, a transistor having a gate to which a constant voltage is applied may be referred to as a statically controlled transistor.

The first amplification circuit A51 may include a plurality of second transistors T21 to T25, wherein four second transistors T21 to T24 among the plurality of second transistors T21 to T25 may be respectively connected to four first transistors T11 to T14, and the remaining second transistor T25 may be connected to two first transistors T15 and T16. As described above with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the four first transistors T11 to T14 and the four second transistors T21 to T24 may provide coarse tuning of the first supply current I_(S1), and the second transistor T25 and the two first transistors T15 and T16 may provide fine tuning of the first supply current I_(S1).

According to some embodiments, each of the plurality of first transistors T11 to T16 included in the first top current valve CVp1″ may have a size, for example a current driving capability, greater than or equal to that of a second transistor connected thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the first transistor T12 receiving a fourth bit CTRp1 [4] of the first top control signal CTRp1 [4:1] may have a size of ‘×16’, and the second transistor T22 connected to the first transistor T12 may have a size of ‘×4’. In addition, at least some of the plurality of second transistors T21 to T25 may have different sizes, and each of the plurality of first transistors T11 to T16 may have a size proportional to a size of a second transistor connected thereto. In the present specification, a size of a transistor may be referred to as a current driving capability of the transistor and may be determined by a channel width and a channel length of the transistor. For example, when channel lengths of transistors included in the comparator 50 are identical, a size of a transistor may be proportional to a channel width thereof. In addition, when the comparator 50 includes unit transistors having the same channel width and channel length, a size of a transistor may be determined by the number of unit transistors connected in parallel.

According to some embodiments, when the first top current valve CVp1 and the first amplification circuit A41 in the comparator 40 of FIG. 4 are implemented to be the same as the first top current valve CVp1″ and the first amplification circuit A51 in FIG. 5, an offset may vary as in Table 1 according to the first top control signal CTRp1 [4:1]

TABLE 1 CTRp1[4:1] 0000 0001 00010 . . . 1101 1110 1111 Offset(mV) 0 1 2 . . . 13 14 15

Similarly to that shown in FIG. 5, a bottom current valve may include a plurality of first transistors, for example NFETs, and each of the plurality of first transistors may have a size, for example a current driving capability, greater than that of a second transistor of an amplification circuit, which is connected thereto, and have the current driving capability proportional to that of the second transistor. In addition, according to some embodiments, a plurality of first transistors included in a bottom current valve may include at least one dynamically controlled transistor and at least one statically controlled transistor, for example a transistor having a gate receiving the positive supply voltage VDD. In addition, the dynamically controlled transistor among the plurality of first transistors included in the bottom current valve may have a gate receiving one bit of a bottom control signal.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are block diagrams of examples of comparators according to embodiments. In detail, the block diagrams of FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate dynamic comparators receiving a clock signal CLK. The description made with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B is not repeated again in a description to be made with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

Referring to FIG. 6A, a comparator 60 a may include an input circuit 62 a and a differential amplification circuit 64 a. In addition, the comparator 60 a may include the top current valve CVp and the bottom current valve CVn, and according to some embodiments, the comparator 60 a may include only one of the top current valve CVp and the bottom current valve CVn. The comparator 60 a may receive the clock signal CLK and generate the output signal OUT corresponding to a comparison result of the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 in response to a rising edge or a falling edge of the clock signal CLK. As described above, the comparator 60 a which generates the output signal OUT in response to the clock signal CLK may be referred to as a dynamic comparator, and the dynamic comparator may reduce static power. At least one of the input circuit 62 a and the differential amplification circuit 64 a may receive the clock signal CLK, and examples of the comparator 60 a will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10B.

Referring to FIG. 6B, a comparator 60 b may include an input circuit 62 b and a differential amplification circuit 64 b. In addition, the comparator 60 b may include the top current valve CVp and the bottom current valve CVn, and according to some embodiments, the comparator 60 b may include only one of the top current valve CVp and the bottom current valve CVn. The comparator 60 b may receive the clock signal CLK and generate the output signal OUT corresponding to a comparison result of the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 in response to a rising edge or a falling edge of the clock signal CLK. At least one of the input circuit 62 b and the differential amplification circuit 64 b may receive the clock signal CLK, and examples of the comparator 60 b will be described below with reference to FIG. 7.

Hereinafter, as described below with reference to the drawings, the top current valve CVp in FIGS. 6A and 6B may be arranged at a side of the positive supply voltage VDD on a path irrelevant to the clock signal CLK. In addition, the bottom current valve CVn in FIGS. 6A and 6B may be arranged at a side of the negative supply voltage VSS on a path irrelevant to the clock signal CLK.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of an example of a comparator according to an embodiment. In detail, the circuit diagram in FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a comparator 70 which includes an input circuit 72 and a differential amplification circuit 74 connected in series between the positive supply voltage VDD and the negative supply voltage VSS, includes the first and second top current valves CVp1 and CVp2, and receives the clock signal CLK, similarly to the comparator 60 b in FIG. 6B. Compared to the comparator 40 in FIG. 4, the comparator 70 in FIG. 7 is a dynamic comparator and may further include third and sixth PFETs P73 to P76 and a fifth NFET N75 which receive the clock signal CLK. The description made with reference to FIG. 4 is not repeated again in a description to be made with reference to FIG. 7.

The input circuit 72 may include first and second NFETs N71 and N72 respectively receiving the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 and further include the fifth NFET N75 receiving the clock signal CLK. The differential amplification circuit 74 may include first and second amplification circuits A71 and A72. The first amplification circuit A71 may include a first PFET P71 and a third NFET N73 which receive the second output signal OUT2 and generate the first output signal OUT1, and further include the third and the fifth PFETs P73 and P75 receiving the clock signal CLK. In addition, the second amplification circuit A72 may include a second PFET P72 and a fourth NFET N74 which receive the first output signal OUT1 and generate the second output signal OUT2, and further include the fourth and the sixth PFETs P74 and P76 receiving the clock signal CLK. The first top current valve CVp1 may be connected to the first PFET P71 drawn to be thick, and the second top current valve CVp2 may be connected to the second PFET P72, which in this illustration is drawn to be thick.

When the clock signal CLK has a low level, the fifth NFET N75 may cause the first and second supply currents I_(S1) and I_(S2) to be zero. In addition, nodes at which the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2 are generated by the fifth and sixth PFETs P75 and P76 may be pre-charged to the positive supply voltage VDD, and nodes at which the first and second output signals OUT1 and OUT2 are generated by the third and fourth PFETs P73 and P74 may also be pre-charged to the positive supply voltage VDD. At the rising edge of the clock signal CLK, the fifth NFET N75 may be turned on, and the third to sixth PFETs P73 to P76 may be turned off, and accordingly, the first and second output signals OUT1 and OUT2 corresponding to a comparison result of the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 may be generated.

Unlike the comparator 70 in FIG. 7, which includes the first and second top current valves CVp1 and CVp2 controlled by the first and second top control signals CTRp1 and CTRp2, a structure of adjusting a load capacitance of a comparator to calibrate an offset may be considered. For example, variable capacitors may be respectively added to nodes at which the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2 are generated, and an offset may be compensated by adjusting capacitances of the variable capacitors. However, the structure of adjusting a load capacitance may cause a large amount of power to be consumed, and may cause an operating speed of the comparator to be lowered. Alternatively, a structure including an additional pull-down path to calibrate an offset may be considered. For example, two NFETs respectively connected in parallel to the first and second NFETs N71 and N72 and having gates receiving a control signal may be further included. However, the structure including an additional pull-down path may cause addition of an analog circuit such as a charge pump to continuously adjust gate voltages of the additional NFETs and may have a weak noise characteristic.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, a comparator including a current valve for offset calibration may provide a wide offset adjustment range and a high offset adjustment resolution without influencing the other characteristics of the comparator, for example an operating speed, power consumption, a noise property, an area, and the like.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of an example of a comparator according to an embodiment. In detail, the circuit diagram in FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a comparator 80 which includes an input circuit 82 and a differential amplification circuit 84 connected in parallel between the positive supply voltage VDD and the negative supply voltage VSS, includes the first and second top current valves CVp1 and CVp2, and receives the clock signal CLK, similarly to the comparator 60 a in FIG. 6A. According to some embodiments, the comparator 80 in FIG. 8 may be referred to as a Miyahara comparator including a top current valve.

The input circuit 82 may include first and second NFETs N81 and N82 respectively receiving the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 and include a third NFET N83 and first and second PFETs P81 and P82 which receive the clock signal CLK. The differential amplification circuit 84 may include first and second amplification circuits A81 and A82. The first amplification circuit A81 may include a fifth PFET P85 and a fourth NFET N84 which receive the second output signal OUT2 and generate the first output signal OUT1 and may include a third PFET P83 and sixth and eighth NFETs N86 and N88 which receive the first internal signal INTL In addition, the second amplification circuit A82 may include a sixth PFET P86 and a fifth NFET N85 which receive the first output signal OUT1 and generate the second output signal OUT2 and may include a fourth PFET P84 and seventh and ninth NFETs N87 and N89 which receive the second internal signal INT2. The first top current valve CVp1 may be connected to the third PFET P83 drawn to be thick, and the second top current valve CVp2 may be connected to the fourth PFET P84 drawn to be thick.

When the clock signal CLK has the low level, nodes at which the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2 are generated by the third NFET N83 and the first and second PFETs P81 and P82 may be pre-charged to the positive supply voltage VDD. In the rising edge of the clock signal CLK, the third NFET N83 may be turned on, and the first and second PFETs P81 and P82 may be turned off, and accordingly, the first and second output signals OUT1 and OUT2 corresponding to a comparison result of the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 may be generated.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are circuit diagrams of examples of comparators according to embodiments. In detail, the circuit diagrams in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C respectively illustrate examples of Miyahara comparators including bottom current valves differently arranged. Each of comparators 90 a, 90 b, and 90 c in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C may include an input circuit having the same structure as the input circuit 82 in FIG. 8, and for convenience of drawing, the input circuit is not shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C. In addition, hereinafter, FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C will be described with reference to FIG. 8, and the description made with reference to FIG. 8 is not repeated again in a description to be made with reference to FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C.

As described above with reference to FIG. 8, the input circuit 82 may receive the clock signal CLK, whereas differential amplification circuits 94 a, 94 b, and 94 c in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C may not receive the clock signal CLK. Accordingly, a bottom current valve may be added to each of nodes mutually corresponding nodes of first and second amplification circuits among nodes connected to the negative supply voltage VSS in the differential amplification circuits 94 a, 94 b, and 94 c.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the comparator 90 a may include the differential amplification circuit 94 a and the first and second bottom current valves CVn1 and CVn2, and the differential amplification circuit 94 a may include first and second amplification circuits A91 a and A92 a. The first amplification circuit A91 a may include a fifth PFET P95 a and a fourth NFET N94 a which receive the second output signal OUT2 and generate the first output signal OUT1 and may include a third PFET P93 a and sixth and eighth NFETs N96 a and N98 a which receive the first internal signal INT1. In addition, the second amplification circuit A92 a may include a sixth PFET P96 a and a fifth NFET N95 a which receive the first output signal OUT1 and generate the second output signal OUT2 and may include a fourth PFET P94 a and seventh and ninth NFETs N97 a and N99 a which receive the second internal signal INT2. The first bottom current valve CVn1 may be connected to the fourth NFET N94 a drawn to be thick, and the second bottom current valve CVn2 may be connected to the fifth NFET N95 a drawn to be thick.

Referring to FIG. 9B, the comparator 90 b may include the differential amplification circuit 94 b and the first and second bottom current valves CVn1 and CVn2, and the differential amplification circuit 94 b may include first and second amplification circuits A91 b and A92 b. The first amplification circuit A91 b may include a fifth PFET P95 b and a fourth NFET N94 b which receive the second output signal OUT2 and generate the first output signal OUT1 and may include a third PFET P93 b and sixth and eighth NFETs N96 b and N98 b which receive the first internal signal INT1. In addition, the second amplification circuit A92 b may include a sixth PFET P96 b and a fifth NFET N95 b which receive the first output signal OUT1 and generate the second output signal OUT2 and may include a fourth PFET P94 b and seventh and ninth NFETs N97 b and N99 b which receive the second internal signal INT2. The first bottom current valve CVn1 may be connected to the sixth NFET N96 b drawn to be thick, and the second bottom current valve CVn2 may be connected to the seventh NFET N97 b drawn to be thick.

Referring to FIG. 9C, the comparator 90 c may include the differential amplification circuit 94 c and the first and second bottom current valves CVn1 and CVn2, and the differential amplification circuit 94 c may include first and second amplification circuits A91 c and A92 c. The first amplification circuit A91 c may include a fifth PFET P95 c and a fourth NFET N94 c which receive the second output signal OUT2 and generate the first output signal OUT1 and may include a third PFET P93 c and sixth and eighth NFETs N96 c and N98 c which receive the first internal signal INT1. In addition, the second amplification circuit A92 c may include a sixth PFET P96 c and a fifth NFET N95 c which receive the first output signal OUT1 and generate the second output signal OUT2 and may include a fourth PFET P94 c and seventh and ninth NFETs N97 c and N99 c which receive the second internal signal INT2. The first bottom current valve CVn1 may be connected to the eighth NFET N98 c drawn to be thick, and the second bottom current valve CVn2 may be connected to the ninth NFET N99 c drawn to be thick.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are circuit diagrams of examples of comparators according to embodiments. In detail, the circuit diagrams in FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate comparators 100 a and 100 b which include an input circuit and a differential amplification circuit connected in parallel between the positive supply voltage VDD and the negative supply voltage VSS and receives the clock signal CLK, similarly to the comparator 60 a in FIG. 6A. Each of the comparators 100 a and 100 b in FIGS. 10A and 10B may include an input circuit having the same structure as the input circuit 82 in FIG. 8, and for convenience of drawing, the input circuit is not shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. According to some embodiments, the comparators 100 a and 100 b in FIGS. 10A and 10B may be referred to as Nauta comparators including a current valve.

Referring to FIG. 10A, the comparator 100 a may include a differential amplification circuit 104 a and the first and second top current valves CVp1 and CVp2. The differential amplification circuit 104 a may include first and second amplification circuits A101 a and A102 a, and the first and second amplification circuits A101 a and A102 a may further receive an inverted clock signal CLKb in addition to the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2. The first amplification circuit A101 a may include a first PFET P101 a and a first NFET N101 a which receive the second output signal OUT2, a third PFET P103 a receiving the first internal signal INT1, and a third NFET N103 a receiving the inverted clock signal CLKb. In addition, the second amplification circuit A102 a may include a second PFET P102 a and a second NFET N102 a which receive the first output signal OUT1, a fourth PFET P104 a receiving the second internal signal INT2, and a fourth NFET N104 a receiving the inverted clock signal CLKb. The first top current valve CVp1 may be connected to the first PFET P101 a drawn to be thick, and the second top current valve CVp2 may be connected to the second PFET P102 a drawn to be thick.

When the clock signal CLK has the low level, for example when the inverted clock signal CLKb has the high level, as described above with reference to FIG. 8, the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2 may be the same as the positive supply voltage VDD, and nodes at which the first and second output signals OUT1 and OUT2 are generated by the third and fourth NFETs N103 a and N104 a may be pre-charged to the negative supply voltage VSS. In the rising edge of the clock signal CLK, for example in the falling edge of the inverted clock signal CLKb, the third and fourth NFETs N103 a and N104 a may be turned off, and accordingly, the first and second output signals OUT1 and OUT2 corresponding to a comparison result of the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 may be generated

Referring to FIG. 10B, the comparator 100 b may include a differential amplification circuit 104 b and the first and second bottom current valves CVn1 and CVn2. The differential amplification circuit 104 b may include first and second amplification circuits A101 b and A102 b, and the first and second amplification circuits A101 b and A102 b may further receive the inverted clock signal CLKb in addition to the first and second internal signals INT1 and INT2. The first amplification circuit A101 b may include a first PFET P101 b and a first NFET N101 b which receive the second output signal OUT2, a third PFET P103 b receiving the first internal signal INT1, and a third NFET N103 b receiving the inverted clock signal CLKb. In addition, the second amplification circuit A102 b may include a second PFET P102 b and a second NFET N102 b which receive the first output signal OUT1, a fourth PFET P104 b receiving the second internal signal INT2, and a fourth NFET N104 b receiving the inverted clock signal CLKb. The first bottom current valve CVn1 may be connected to the first NFET N101 b drawn to be thick, and the second bottom current valve CVn2 may be connected to the second NFET N102 b drawn to be thick.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an example of an integrated circuit including a comparator, according to an embodiment. In detail, the block diagram in FIG. 11 illustrates an example of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 110 as an example of an integrated circuit.

Referring to FIG. 11, the ADC 110 may receive an analog input A_IN and generate a digital output signal D_OUT by converting the analog input A_IN. The ADC 110 may have an arbitrary structure and, as a non-limiting example, have a flash ADC structure, a loop-unrolled successive approximation register (SAR) ADC structure, a time interleaving ADC structure, or the like. As shown in FIG. 11, the ADC 110 may include first to mth comparators CMP1 to CMPm, where m is an integer greater than 1, and an offset controller 112. The first to mth comparators CMP1 to CMPm may mutually compare the analog input A_IN, a reference signal, an analog signal generated based on the analog input A_IN and/or the reference signal, and the like according to a structure of the ADC 110. Each of the first to mth comparators CMP1 to CMPm may include a current valve for offset calibration as described above with reference to the drawings, and accordingly, the performance and efficiency of the ADC 110 may be improved.

The first to mth comparators CMP1 to CMPm may include current valves, respectively, and receive first to mth control signals CTR1 to CTRm for controlling the current valves, respectively. The ADC 110 may be set to a calibration mode or a normal mode, wherein, in the calibration mode, offsets of the first to mth comparators CMP1 to CMPm may be calibrated, and in the normal mode, the digital output signal D_OUT corresponding to the analog input A_IN may be generated.

The offset controller 112 may compensate for the offsets of the first to mth comparators CMP1 to CMPm through the first to mth control signals CTR1 to CTRm in the calibration mode. In addition, the offset controller 112 may maintain the first to mth control signals CTR1 to CTRm corresponding to the compensated offsets in the normal mode. The offset controller 112 may include at least one of logic hardware designed by logic synthesis and a processing unit which includes a processor and software including a series of instructions to be executed by the processor. According to some embodiments, the offset controller 112 may receive a signal, for example MD in FIG. 14A, indicating an operation mode, for example the calibration mode or the normal mode, from outside of the ADC 110. An example of an operation of the offset controller 112 will be described below with reference to FIG. 13.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an example of a comparator according to an embodiment. A comparator 120 in FIG. 12 may include an input circuit 122, a differential amplification circuit 124, the top current valve CVp, and the bottom current valve CVn similarly to the comparator 10 a in FIG. 1A and may further include a switch SW connected between nodes, for example first and second input terminals T1 and T2, to which the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 are applied. The comparator 120 may receive, as a dynamic comparator, the clock signal CLK like the comparator 60 a in FIG. 6A according to some embodiments and may include only one of the top current valve CVp and the bottom current valve CVn according to some embodiments. In addition, although not shown, it will be understood that a switch connected between the nodes to which the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 are applied may be added to other embodiments, for example the comparator 10 b in FIG. 1B.

The switch SW may receive a switch control signal CTRs and electrically connect or disconnect the first and second input terminals T1 and T2 according to the switch control signal CTRs. For example, as described below with reference to FIG. 13, the switch SW may be turned on in the calibration mode to electrically connect the first and second input terminals T1 and T2 and turned off in the normal mode to electrically disconnect the first and second input terminals T1 and T2. When the switch SW is turned on, the comparator 120 may receive the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 having substantially the same potential, and in an embodiment, the output signal OUT may have an intermediate voltage between the high level and the low level or oscillate between the high level and the low level In an embodiment, when the comparator 120 has an offset, the output signal OUT may have the high level or the low level though the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 have substantially the same potential. Accordingly, offset calibration may be performed by turning the switch SW on in the calibration mode.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an example of a method of calibrating an offset of a comparator, according to an embodiment. In detail, the flowchart in FIG. 13 illustrates a method of calibrating an offset of a comparator including the switch SW connected between the first and second input terminals T1 and T2, like the comparator 120 in FIG. 12. According to some embodiments, the method of FIG. 13 may be performed by the offset controller 112 in FIG. 12, and in the description of FIG. 13 hereinafter, it is assumed that the offset controller 112 controls the comparator 120 in FIG. 12, and FIGS. 11 and 12 will be referred to.

Referring to FIG. 13, in operation S20, an operation mode may be determined. According to some embodiments, the offset controller 112 may receive a signal indicating the operation mode from outside of the ADC 110. According to some embodiments, the offset controller 112 may determine the calibration mode when power is supplied to the ADC 110 and determine the normal mode when the calibration mode is finished. As shown in FIG. 13, operation S40 may be performed in the calibration mode, and operation S60 may be performed in the normal mode.

As shown in FIG. 13, operation S40 performed in the calibration mode may include operations S42, S44, S46, and S48. In operation S42, the switch SW may be turned on. For example, the offset controller 112 may provide the switch control signal CTRs for turning on the switch SW to the comparator 120, and accordingly, the first and second input terminals T1 and T2 may be electrically connected.

In operation S44, an offset may be adjusted. For example, the offset controller 112 may adjust the offset of the comparator 120 by changing at least one of the top control signal CTRp and the bottom control signal CTRn. As described above with reference to the drawings, the comparator 120 may provide a wide offset adjustment range and a high offset adjustment resolution without influencing the other characteristics of the comparator 120.

In operation S46, it is determined whether the offset is compensated. For example, the output signal OUT of the comparator 120 may be fed back to the offset controller 112, and the offset controller 112 may determine that offset compensation is finished when the output signal OUT oscillates with about 50% duty between the high level and the low level or when the output signal OUT has an intermediate level between the high level and the low level. As shown in FIG. 13, when the offset compensation is finished, operation S48 may be subsequently performed, otherwise, operations S44 and S46 may be repetitively performed.

In operation S48, the switch may be turned off. For example, because the offset has been compensated in operation S46, the offset controller 112 may output the switch control signal CTRs for turning off the switch SW such that the comparator 120 compares the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 in the normal mode, and accordingly, the first and second input terminals T1 and T2 may be electrically disconnected.

In the normal mode, operation S60 may be performed, and in operation S60, a constant control signal corresponding to the compensated offset may be output. For example, the offset controller 112 may generate the top control signal CTRp and the bottom signal CTRn corresponding to the offset compensated in the calibration mode. Accordingly, the comparator 120 may generate the output signal OUT by comparing the first and second input signals IN1 and IN2 in a state in which the offset has been compensated.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are block diagrams of examples of offset controllers according to embodiments. As described above with reference to FIG. 12, offset controllers 140 a and 140 b in FIGS. 14A and 14B may generate a control signal CTR for adjusting an offset of a comparator. Hereinafter, a duplicated description with respect to FIGS. 14A and 14B will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 14A, the offset controller 140 a may generate the control signal CTR as a multi-bit signal, and may include a control logic 142 a and a memory 144 a. According to some embodiments, the control logic 142 a may receive a mode signal MD as shown as a dashed line in FIG. 14A and determine the calibration mode or the normal mode based on the mode signal MD. According to some embodiments, the control logic 142 a may enter the calibration mode when power is supplied to the offset controller 140 a, and enter the normal mode by releasing the calibration mode when offset compensation is finished in the calibration mode. A current valve may include a first transistor receiving a bit of the control signal CTR, and a supply current provided to a comparator may be adjusted by the first transistor turned on or off according to the bit of the control signal CTR. According to some embodiments, the control logic 142 a may further output the switch control signal CTRs for controlling the switch SW in FIG. 12.

The control logic 142 a may store, in the memory 144 a, a compensated offset or a value of the control signal CTR corresponding to the compensated offset in the calibration mode and output the constant control signal CTR according to the value stored in the memory 144 a in the normal mode. The memory 144 a may include, as a non-limiting example, a volatile memory such as a latch, a flipflop, static random access memory (SRAM), or dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and include, as a non-limiting example, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

Referring to FIG. 14B, the offset controller 140 b may generate at least one control signal CTR as an analog signal and include a control logic 142 b, a memory 144 b, and a variable voltage source 146. The control logic 142 b may provide a bias control signal BIAS to the variable voltage source 146 in the calibration mode, and the variable voltage source 146 may output the at least one control signal CTR having a magnitude, for example voltage, corresponding to the bias control signal BIAS. A current valve may include a first transistor receiving the at least one control signal CTR, and a supply current provided to a comparator may be adjusted by the first transistor adjusting a current flowing therethrough according to a magnitude of the at least one control signal CTR. According to some embodiments, the bias control signal BIAS may be a digital signal, and the variable voltage source 146 may include a digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an example of a baseband processor according to an embodiment. The baseband processor may be included in a communication device for wireless communication and may be referred to as a modem, a communication processor, or the like. As shown in FIG. 15, a baseband processor 150 may include a plurality of ADCs 152, a plurality of DACs 154, and a data processor 156.

The baseband processor 150 may receive a baseband input signal BB_IN as an analog signal and generate a baseband output signal BB_OUT as an analog signal. For example, the baseband processor 150 may receive the baseband input signal BB_IN from a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) or a transceiver, and may provide the baseband output signal BB_OUT to the RFIC or transceiver. As shown in FIG. 15, the baseband input signal BB_IN may be received via a plurality of paths, and accordingly, the baseband processor 150 may include the plurality of ADCs 152 to process the baseband input signal BB_IN. Likewise, the baseband output signal BB_OUT may be output via a plurality of paths, and accordingly, the baseband processor 150 may include the plurality of DACs 154 to generate the baseband output signal BB_OUT. Each of the plurality of ADCs 152 may include a plurality of comparators, and each of the plurality of comparators may include a current valve for offset calibration according to an embodiment. Accordingly, the performance and efficiency of the plurality of ADCs 152 may be improved, and as a result, the usefulness of the baseband processor 150 may increase.

The data processor 156 may extract information received through wireless communication by processing digital signals provided from the plurality of ADCs 152. For example, the data processor 156 may perform demodulation, decoding, and the like. In addition, the data processor 156 may provide, to the plurality of DACs 154, a digital signal including information to be transmitted through wireless communication. For example, the data processor 156 may generate the digital signal provided to the plurality of DACs 154, by performing modulation, encoding, and the like.

While embodiments been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

1. A comparator configured to calibrate an offset according to a control signal, the comparator comprising: an input circuit configured to receive a first input signal and a second input signal, and to generate a first internal signal corresponding to the first input signal and a second internal signal corresponding to the second input signal; a differential amplification circuit configured to consume a supply current flowing from a positive voltage node having a positive supply voltage to a negative voltage node having a negative supply voltage, and to generate an output signal by amplifying a difference between the first internal signal and the second internal signal; and a current valve configured to adjust at least a portion of the supply current based on the control signal.
 2. The comparator of claim 1, wherein the current valve comprises a plurality of first transistors connected in series to the differential amplification circuit and one of the positive voltage node or the negative voltage node, wherein the differential amplification circuit comprises a plurality of second transistors having commonly connected control electrodes, wherein each second transistor of the plurality of second transistors is connected to at least one first transistor of the plurality of first transistors, and wherein the plurality of first transistors comprises at least one dynamically controlled transistor having a control electrode configured to receive the control signal.
 3. The comparator of claim 2, wherein the at least one first transistor is connected to at least one second transistor of the plurality of second transistors, and wherein a first current driving capability of the at least one first transistor is greater than or equal to a second current driving capability of the at least one second transistor.
 4. The comparator of claim 2, wherein the plurality of second transistors include at least two second transistors having different current driving capabilities, and wherein each first transistor of the plurality of first transistors has a first current driving capability proportional to a second current driving capability of a second transistor connected to the each first transistor from among the plurality of second transistors.
 5. The comparator of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of first transistors and the plurality of second transistors comprises at least one unit transistor connected in parallel.
 6. The comparator of claim 2, wherein the plurality of first transistors comprises at least one statically controlled transistor having a control electrode configured to receive the positive supply voltage or the negative supply voltage.
 7. The comparator of claim 6, wherein the plurality of first transistors comprise the at least one dynamically controlled transistor and the at least one statically controlled transistor, and wherein the at least one dynamically controlled transistor and the at least one statically controlled transistor are connected to one second transistor among the plurality of second transistors.
 8. The comparator of claim 2, wherein the at least one dynamically controlled transistor is configured to be turned on or turned off according to the control signal.
 9. The comparator of claim 1, wherein the differential amplification circuit comprises a first amplification circuit cross-coupled with a second amplification circuit, wherein the first amplification circuit is configured to generate a first output signal, wherein the second amplification circuit is configured to generate a second output signal complementary to the first output signal, and wherein the current valve comprises: a first current valve configured to adjust a first supply current flowing through the first amplification circuit; and a second current valve configured to adjust a second supply current flowing through the second amplification circuit.
 10. The comparator of claim 1, wherein the current valve, the differential amplification circuit, and the input circuit are connected in series between the positive voltage node and the negative voltage node.
 11. The comparator of claim 1, wherein the input circuit is connected to the positive voltage node and the negative voltage node, and wherein the current valve is connected in series to at least a portion of the differential amplification circuit between the positive voltage node and the negative voltage node.
 12. The comparator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the input circuit and the differential amplification circuit is configured to receive a clock signal, wherein the output signal corresponds to a result of a comparison between the first input signal and the second input signal, and wherein the comparison is performed based on a rising edge or a falling edge of the clock signal.
 13. A comparator configured to calibrate an offset according to a control signal, the comparator comprising: an input circuit configured to receive a first input signal and a second input signal, and to generate a first internal signal corresponding to the first input signal and a second internal signal corresponding to the second input signal; a differential amplification circuit configured to generate an output signal by amplifying a difference between the first internal signal and the second internal signal; and a current valve comprising at least one transistor having a control electrode configured to receive the control signal, wherein the at least one transistor is connected in series to the differential amplification circuit and one of a positive voltage node having a positive supply voltage or a negative voltage node having a negative supply voltage.
 14. The comparator of claim 13, wherein the current valve comprises a plurality of first p-channel field-effect transistors (PFETs) having sources connected to the positive voltage node, wherein the differential amplification circuit comprises a plurality of second PFETs having commonly connected gates and commonly connected drains, wherein each second PFET of the plurality of second PFETS has a source connected to a drain of at least one first PFET of the plurality of first PFETs, and wherein at least one first PFET among the plurality of first PFETs has a gate configured to receive the control signal.
 15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled)
 18. (canceled)
 19. (canceled)
 20. The comparator of claim 13, wherein the current valve comprises a plurality of first n-channel field-effect transistors (NFETs) having sources connected to the negative voltage node, wherein the differential amplification circuit comprises a plurality of second NFETs having commonly connected gates and commonly connected drains, wherein each second NFET of the plurality of second NFETs has a source connected to a drain of at least one first NFET of the plurality of first NFETs, and wherein at least one first NFET among the plurality of first NFETs has a gate configured to receive the control signal.
 21. (canceled)
 22. (canceled)
 23. (canceled)
 24. (canceled)
 25. (canceled)
 26. The comparator of claim 13, wherein the differential amplification circuit comprises a first amplification circuit cross-coupled with a second amplification circuit, wherein the first amplification circuit is configured to generate a first output signal, wherein the second amplification circuit is configured to generate a second output signal complementary to the first output signal, and wherein the current valve comprises: at least one first control transistor having a first control electrode configured to receive a first control signal and connected in series to the first amplification circuit and the positive voltage node or the negative voltage node; and at least one second control transistor having a second control electrode configured to receive a second control signal and connected in series to the second amplification circuit and the positive voltage node or the negative voltage node.
 27. An integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of comparators, wherein each comparator of the plurality of comparators is configured to calibrate an offset according to a control signal; and an offset controller configured to generate the control signal for adjusting the offset in a calibration mode and generate a constant control signal in a normal mode, wherein the each comparator comprises: a differential amplification circuit configured to generate at least one output signal among a plurality of output signals by consuming a supply current; and a current valve configured to adjust at least a portion of the supply current based on the control signal.
 28. The integrated circuit of claim 27, wherein the each comparator comprises a switch connected between a first input terminal and a second input terminal, and wherein the offset controller is further configured to control the switch such that the first input terminal and the second input terminal are electrically connected when entering the calibration mode, and such that the first input terminal and the second input terminal are electrically disconnected when the calibration mode is released.
 29. The integrated circuit of claim 27, wherein the offset controller is further configured to generate the control signal as a multi-bit signal, and wherein the current valve comprises a plurality of transistors having a plurality of control electrodes configured to receive bits of the control signal.
 30. The integrated circuit of claim 27, wherein the offset controller is further configured to generate the control signal as a bias voltage, and wherein the offset controller comprises at least one transistor having a control electrode configured to receive the bias voltage. 